Romney

[Pelado]

From a "market" perspective, I think Obama could pull this out. The US is incontrovertibly improving. I have been in the states for a few weeks now, having visited three different states and I've not sensed this sort economic recovery in a while. The data are all improving, from housing, to PMI indexes, to unemployment.

We've gone through a real economic supercycle that I'd argue began in 1998. That cycle has seen very few REAL economic gains (the stock market is almost precisely where it was in 1998, to wit), if any. Our perceived economic gains in the mid 2000s were really just taking from one pocket and putting it in the other (from equity into debt).

2012 will begin year 14 of this cycle. Maybe we are Japan and two lost decades, but I don't think so.

I suspect that Europe will not result in a disaster as it's truly M.A.D. if they do, the economy will put up a 4%ish nominal growth year with steady employment gains, housing starts to feel 5-10% away from the true bottom (which the market will anticipate) and by the time we get to August, the economy, stupid, will feel like a mini-boom.

Get ready for four more years of Obama, is my prediction.

http://www.thegrio.com/politics/romn...ng-economy.php

[myboynoah]

Romney pushing for four-state streak to steamroll GOP opponents

After preparing for a drawn-out nominating battle that would stretch well into the spring, Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign is now quietly shifting gears in an effort to steamroll his underfunded opponents — and lock up the Republican nomination by the Florida primary at the end of this month.

Buoyed by a narrow win in the Iowa caucuses and his commanding lead in the New Hampshire polls, Romney has turned his attention to South Carolina, where he is dispatching a slew of high-profile surrogates and relocating some staffers ahead of the Jan. 21 primary. Looking further ahead, Romney has begun a massive advertising blitz in Florida and launched an aggressive outreach program to early voters in the state.

With New Hampshire pretty much wrapped up, the obvious key is South Carolina. Mitt is polling surprisingly very strongly there. If he wins South Carolina, it will be over, barring some unexpected surprises.

[oxcoug]

a breakdown on Romney in NH from my bro who recently started contributing to the D News.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7...r-save-it.html

[myboynoah]

2012 New Hampshire Primary Beer Poll

Go Mitt!

[calicoug]

Romney pushing for four-state streak to steamroll GOP opponents



With New Hampshire pretty much wrapped up, the obvious key is South Carolina. Mitt is polling surprisingly very strongly there. If he wins South Carolina, it will be over, barring some unexpected surprises.

Agreed. If he takes SC, it's very difficult to see a path to victory for anyone else. Of course, Republicans have lengthened the primary process this year and the big gap between primaries could give evangelicals enough time to galvanize a movement in favor of one candidate (likely Santorum), but Mitt would have far more resources, organization and name recognition.

[Indy Coug]

Christie puts up a strong defense for Romney -- again.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012...ampaign-rally/

[oxcoug]

This was posted by YOhio in the Primary thread but thought it should get in this one as well....

http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000066368

Jack Welch calls Romney "the most qualified candidate I've seen in my lifetime."

[byu71]

This was posted by YOhio in the Primary thread but thought it should get in this one as well....

http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000066368

Jack Welch calls Romney "the most qualified candidate I've seen in my lifetime."

Somone should have the video of Crissy Mathews going off on Romney this morning and then this video. Then ask the question, who do you think knows more about the who should be in charge of the economy.

[Jacob]

Somone should have the video of Crissy Mathews going off on Romney this morning and then this video. Then ask the question, who do you think knows more about the who should be in charge of the economy.

No person should be in charge of the economy.
But I take your point.

[Green Monstah]

Romney's Mexico roots to be highlighted on MSNBC tonight.

http://rockcenter.msnbc.msn.com/_new...outh-of-border

[Uncle Ted]

The Libertarians go on the attack...

Mitt Romney = Big Government

Smart moms tell their kids, “Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.”

That advice saved me a lot of heartache. And it will do the same for anyone who is leaning towards voting for Mitt Romney.

Candidate Romney campaigns for president with the words we’re aching to hear. Words we want to believe. Candidate Romney tells us that he is a:

• “fiscal conservative”
• “friend of small business”
• “tax cutter”
• “waste fighter”
• “opponent of runaway spending”
• “tough leader who vetoes new taxes and needless government spending”

Let’s follow Mom’s advice: ignore candidate Romney’s words. Look at elected Governor Romney’s deeds.

What does he do when he’s elected?

Mitt Romney hits up taxpayers with a variety of new taxes – while pretending he doesn’t.

Mitt Romney jacks up government spending as much as any Big Government Democrat would.

Mitt Romney champions massive Big Government Programs – that made Ted Kennedy proud.

[Indy Coug]

What kind of record do we have to judge Libertarians against?

[Jacob]

The Libertarians go on the attack...

Mitt Romney = Big Government

We should probably examine the 3 unsubstantiated claims made in your post.

Mitt Romney hits up taxpayers with a variety of new taxes – while pretending he doesn’t.

Mitt Romney jacks up government spending as much as any Big Government Democrat would.

Mitt Romney champions massive Big Government Programs – that made Ted Kennedy proud.

Did Mitt Romney hit up taxpayers with a variety of new taxes? He did raise a lot of fees while Governor, but never raised any tax rates and did, in fact reduce taxes. This site seems to be pro-Romney, but has links to articles supporting the claims:
http://aboutmittromney.com/taxes.htm
Claimed facts:

• Romney never raised tax rates
• Romney proposed reducing state income tax rate, though leislature blocked
• implemented $800 home heating tax deduction
• eliminated sales tax certain retail sales
• reduced capital gains taxes

Secondly, you claim that Romney "jacks up government spending as much as any democrat would. This is contrasted with his having balanced the Massachusetts budget, which saw large deficits prior to his governorship. He also reduced all spending in Mass in his first year from $22.8 billion in Fiscal 2002 to $22.4 billion in Fiscal 2003. A modest decrease, but a decrease nonetheless, especially considering initial $3b budget shortfall from prior year.
No doubt he put "Romneycare" into place, but he claims that he did so without raising taxes, which nobody seems to dispute. I don't know much about how that affected overal spending.

He has proposed a cap on federal government spending.
He has proposed a reduction in all non-military discretionary spending of 5%. I don't think that's sufficient, but it is hardly a big spender idea.

[Jacob]

Increase in Real Government Spending in Mass. over prior year

2002: 0.7%
2003: -4.7$
2004 -2.2%
2005: 0.8%
2006: 0.6%
2007: 7.5%
Given that Romney was elected in 2002, he was responsible for the spending level from 2003-2006. Obviously, there was a big reduction in spending as soon as he took over, and a big jump the year after he left. I guess he's not as big a spender as any democrat after all.

[Uncle Ted]

Increase in Real Government Spending in Mass. over prior year

2002: 0.7%
2003: -4.7$
2004 -2.2%
2005: 0.8%
2006: 0.6%
2007: 7.5%
Given that Romney was elected in 2002, he was responsible for the spending level from 2003-2006. Obviously, there was a big reduction in spending as soon as he took over, and a big jump the year after he left. I guess he's not as big a spender as any democrat after all.

Link?

I have asked Carla Howell (carla.howell@lp.org) to defend what she wrote in her blog and even come on CUF to do it directly.